Time Out: The Built as a Refuge from the Temporal

Abstract

Signs of the passage of time can come as an unwelcome reminder of our own eventual passing. Historically, many cultures have sought refuge from the march of time in the notion of a timeless present. More recently, studies have shown that presence achieved through meditation lowers stress. This essay explores how the built environments where we spend most of our lives might help us to be more fully present. Rather presenting a comprehensive theory of the present in architecture, its intent is to make a series of design suggestions.